Status Updates From Undiscovered

-I’m not very knowledgeable about common dynamics within polyamory, especially with families that have children. Gabriela’s phycological connections between her racist experiences & inner guilt are very complex. I can sympathize with her experiences & hope she’s able to heal with her family.

-a fact that she is related to her more immediate descendants; & those are the relationships she chooses to focus on. She does so while still attempting to decolonize her lifestyle & mindset, & remembering the history of colonialism. It was interesting to read about Gabriela’s inner turmoil, the ethnic classifications of Peru that are based on colonialism & pretentious percentages, & her polyamorous relationship-

The concept of human zoos is disgusting; not only does it involve human trafficking, but it puts people on display to act out a fetishized version of their history that downplays their real experiences & dehumanizes them. Gabriela reflects upon the complexities of her polyamorous family vs multi-family systems born from infidelity. She’s not completely sure if she descends from Charles Weiner, but she knows for-

-trying to dig deeper into Charles Wiener’s secret history, since so much of his exploits & research are publicly accessible. She wants to know more about those roots & potential ancestors who were stolen or a result of infidelity (or worse). She’s struggling to get this info bc she’s not seen as a true descendant bc she’s not white. Will knowing more about Charles being her more peace & decolonization?

Gabriela’s inner conflict has led to destructive behaviors. She’s sabotaging her polyamorous relationship. She’s had guilt instilled in her; instinctually feeling guilty for existing as a result of constantly being shunned & discriminated against. In a response to this guilt, she’s self-sabotaging, doing harmful acts so that she has something tangible & in her control to feel guilty over. She’s also-

I’m familiar with some of these terms & contexts from my days in school; but it’s refreshing to hear about someone’s personal experiences with multiculturalism, interracial & multiracial families, & colonization in Latin America.

-your own story to write. Moreover, it’s also important to honor our culture & history that we resonate with. For the aspects of our family history that we disagree with, or deem unethical, we can do our best to repair where we can. With what we can’t, we can still educate ourselves, not ignore the heinous acts of the past, & try to move forward with more equity & consideration for others than our ancestors did.

-mindset claimed ownership of “discoveries” & cultural relics/practices that weren’t their own. While her father pursued a communist political path, his personal life was immoral by Gabriela’s standards. How will Gabriela come to settle into her identity & heritage given its paradoxical double nature? I can relate, given my background. I believe it’s crucial to remember that you’re your own person, with-

This is classified as autofiction; I’ve read memoirs, autobiographies, & manifestos that have had narrative elements to them. In this book, Gabriela shares the mixed feelings she has about her identity & family history. Half of her roots are more indigenous, while the other half is more tied to colonialism — something she opposes. She reflects on her ancestors’ and father’s histories; how the colonialist-